Monday, July 25, 2011

Two New Tabs - George is on the wall!

Good afternoon on this AGAIN hot and humid day.
I turned off the air this morning but it only stayed off for a couple hours...the air coming in the windows was horrible so back on it went.  I was hoping for a reprieve today but guess not.
So I'm doing the best thing on a hot day...posting,
reading blogs and sewing on an order.

I POSTED THREE NEW TABS at the top of my blog.

COUNTRY FRECKLES...a fantastic Prim/Colonial shop in Wisconsin
~ Click the photo to be taken to the page ~


RT. 66 ANTIQUES...wonderful Prim Antiques in Missouri 
~ Click the photo to be taken to the page ~

AMANA COLONIES
~ Click on picture to be taken to the page ~


ENJOY!

I finally got my GEORGE picture up on a wall - not where it was
intended to go but will do for now - I actually like it here now
But in time it will go over the fireplace

Oh I have to say a huge THANK YOU to MAURINE from Stitchen House of Prims: http://stitchinsprims.blogspot.com/
She sent me a wonderful thank you package for some books I sent her...naturally I got the best of the bargain!
I now have one of her wonderful hand made bonnets - it's a wonderful rich Brown and those two Herb bags are awesome sizes - the Herbs are cross-stitched on.

And last for today my Penny Runner I'm partially finished with.
When we traveled last week it gave me something to do in the car.

I just have to back it now and it's good to go.

And a huge thank you for those who participated in my sale
It was more than a success...there are only a few items left.
I'll keep them up in the tab for a bit more but then will close it.
Maybe later I will have more things to sell when I unpack boxes.

Guess that's all I have for now 
Karen

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Packing Snacks for Trips or Get-Away

Tammy over at http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/ has posted a fun post. SNACKS FOR THE ROAD…she is asking “what do you take” and so I’m posting what gets packed in my ‘goodie bag’.  Go over and read her post – it’s fun!

We used to have a Suburban so just about everything we  I could think of went on trips with us but now it’s the Mini Van so we I have scaled back some although what I pack there is a lot that comes back home with us…it’s something about having the ‘familiar’ with you – maybe it’s a ‘comfort’ thing.

These are what I can’t do without on the road
 junior_mints__47993_zoom
milk duds
ice_mountain_single 

And my husband always needs his
diet-mountain-dew_LRG
heath bar 
hersheybar

And for good measure I take
lays_classic
wrigley-s-extra-polar-ice-sugar-free-gum-15-stick-pack-10280-p
triscuit crackers
And this to put on the crackers…now I know some of you will go ICKKKKKK but I like it in small amounts – it can get kind of sickening eating too much
easy-cheese 

So what is it you take on your road trips/vacation get a-ways???? Let us know!

Thanks Tammy for starting this fun topic

Karen

Monday, July 18, 2011

Pictures, Pitcher (as in a small Creamer) and a Picture

Wow, what a mouthful huh?

Well last week Thursday we headed to hot humid Arkansas – why you ask did we head South in the midst of this Summer Heat Wave?
Well my husband and his cousins had their annual COUSIN’S REUNION…mainly it’s for the adult cousins but this time the daughter of the one hosting it was home from California and the other cousin’s daughter and family came along too because they rarely get to see each other so it was the perfect time to have them join in.

Martinsen cousins
In order of age…oldest to youngest - Doug, Jim (our host), Alan, RuthAnn, LeAnn, Phyllis
(missing: Kenlyn, Karen, Jeanne)
Cousins 1 
Me and LeeAnn helping in the kitchen
Karen and LeeAnn
This sun room Jim built on recently (by himself) – he actually finished it on Monday and had the tile floor put in the day before the reunion weekend (on Thursday)…he was sweating (and not from the heat) in fear it wouldn’t get finished in time and it looks off into the woods.
Sunroom 
He lives in Bella Vista, Arkansas which leads directly into Bentonville, Arkansas, Walmart headquarters among other companies.
Jim’s community is just gorgeous.
Bella Vista offers lots of wooded common ground, 7 Golf courses, 7 man made lakes, 4 club houses, RV park, a marina, 3 swimming Pools, 2 Putt Putt golf courses, 3 playgrounds, Tennis courts, 2 workout facilities, miles of walking trails, a dog park, and a ball park...ALL FOR THE USE OF POA (Property Owner Association – which are all of $24 per month!) for those living in Bella Vista. We were very impressed. Jims house is at the end of a cul-de-sac and completely surrounded by woods – well the entire community is woods.

After lunch on Saturday we took a site seeing tour with Jim (3 vehicles in all) and our first stop was the Cooper Chapel (we couldn’t stay long because there was a wedding to be held there)
Cooper Chappel 1 
On path to Cooper Chappel
Cooper Chappel 2 
Cooper Chappel 3 

The entire group
Cousins 2011

After that Jim took us to the Crystal Bridge Trail
Now this was supposed to be a block and a half walk along the trail (Now for any of you have been in a Tropical Rain Forrest at the peak of heat, you will know how warm and humid it can get…that’s what it felt there).

Three of us were feeling the heat something awful and it was on the way into the walk. Well what was to be a block and a half turned out to be a MILE AND A HALF - ONE WAY…..in 100 degree heat – in the woods!!!!  And no one thought to bring water along because it was to be JUST A BLOCK AND A HALF….I don’t think Jim is ever going to be able to live this one down – his sister said she’s going to use it against for a long time to come. Jokingly that is….she’s a journalist for a newspaper and write a column like Erma Bombeck did.

But I will say the walk was beautiful – even though every part of me was wet and dripping from my hair as well. But on the way back there was a rest room and Doug brought out some paper towels and part way back there is a spring fed stream and he wet them for the three of us to wipe our faces and arms with and it actually helped…by this time my heart was pounding in my ears and I started to hear humming so I knew I reached my limit so I was thankful for that good cold stream.
At the beginning of the trail there are gardens to enjoy.
At entrance to Crystal Bridges Trail
Crystal Bridges Trail 1
Crystal Bridges Trail 2
Crystal Bridges Trail 3
Crystal Bridges Trail 4

The wonderfully COLD spring fed stream!
Crystal Bridges Trail 5

And the goal was to see the Crystal Bridge Art Center – the photo here is from their website and not the real thing – not sure how they got this to look real because it’s still under construction.
Crystal Bridges 

This is what WE saw
Crystal Bridge center 1 

Then we went to the Ernest Lawrence Plaza so the little ones could play in the dancing waters (along with their grandma LeeAnn)
Ernest Lawrence Plaza 1
Ernest Lawrence Plaza grandchild

They also dragged grammie LeeAnn in with them – don’t think they needed to pull very hard though…100 degree temps basically drew one in.
Ernest Lawrence Plaza LeeAnn and grandchildren
Ernest Lawrence Plaza LeeAnn

Then we stopped in the Original Walmart store
DSC03833 

I know this post is picture heavy so I’ll just show a couple more.
Doug and I arrived on Friday early and that evening those that were there early went out to dinner at the Shrimpman’s Yacht Club – I tried to get a good Sunset picture but I guess I waited too long.
This was the view from our table.
Sunset at Fishermans Yacht Club
Group at dinner 

On our drive home I saw this sweet Ice Cream stand somewhere in IL
Ice Cream

And in Phillipsburg, MO we stopped at Historic Route 66 Antique Mall.
I have not seen an Antique mall filled with sooo many Primitives – not ever like this.
I will post on them later this week and also I want to post about Country Freckles – I still need to do that so I have lots to post about.
http://www.picturetrail.com/rt66antiquemall

I found this wonderful black and white print of George Washington there. It’s 22 x 26 so it’s a generous size and the frame is also very old.  My hope is to put it over the fireplace one day WHEN we get the wood replaced up there.George Washington Picture
And I found this great creamer with attached lid!  Not sure why the color is different on the lower part of the creamer but that didn’t bother me.  It’s 6 inches tall and the maker is Brewster Pewter.
Pewter Pitcher

And to end this looong post, we received two pictures from Dan our son – over the 4th they were in IL to some friends house and he likes to shoot – in a good way.
Dan and Jamie were able to shoot a few and here they are shooting a Barret 50cal., and I guess there’s quite a kick to it from the look on Jamie’s face.

Dan with gun
Jamie with gun

Our other son Darren/MaryAnn have hand guns and go to the shooting range and Dan and Jamie are hoping to buy some as well and join them on weekends.

So that’s it for me for this post. I know it’s long but I had a few photos to share.

Take care and blessings,
Karen

Monday, July 11, 2011

Beautiful Pond and My Kids Have Names!

Last Wednesday we took a couple days off and went up to my brother/sil’s place. I have shown you photos of their place before - it’s so peaceful up there in the woods.
Well he has a run off pond (from the air con and heat) next to the house that he  has been working on (playing with) since they built the house and I do think he has it almost perfect now.
Some of the liner is showing because the water level is a bit low but it’s still beautiful just the same.
But here’s a few photos of my brother’s pond.

I posted this Cupola last Fall just after he found it and wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it…..
Coupla 2_thumb[3]
Coupla 1_thumb[7]

Well this is where it ended up…

BEFORE:
Pond 3

AFTER:
Vent 
Vent 1

BEFORE:
Pond 2

AFTER:
Genes Pond 5

Genes Pond 4 

Genes Pond 2

Genes Pond 3

FROM OUR WINDOW:
Pond from Window 
Hope you enjoyed!

crow divider

We also went into Wisconsin Rapids and did some Prim shopping – found the shop I’ve wanted to go to since she opened…COUNTRY FRECKLES…oh yes – a treasure!
My next post will showcase her place so be watching.
But I did find a few treasures that day.
A Pewter Creamer/Sugar set
DSC03664
more Pewter pieces – not matching
DSC03665

Some Wool to start my ‘real’ looking Penny Rug…and a hooked rug project

DSC03670

crow divider
Finally after 4 years of just being ‘waifs’ they are named and I have to thank each and every one of you for joining in on this wonderful ‘game’.

I loved them all and if I put them all out in front of me I just could not pick…so thank goodness for the RANDOM PICKER GENERATOR.

“Random numbers generated Jul 11 2011 at 8:12:3 by www.psychicscience.org 
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.
Min:  1
Max:  41
Result:
20”

And so the lucky winner is:  http://primlish.blogspot.com/
Robyn~Primlish said…
Oh, Marie did such a great job! I really love them!
My choice for names are Oliver and Olivia. What cuties!
Tuesday, July 05, 2011 7:42:00 PM

Named Dolls

Congratulations Robyn…I’m so happy for you and my ‘kids’. They now have some wonderful names that suit them quite well.

Your gifts will be coming along just as soon as I get your mailing information.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED…it was fun for me reading all those wonderful names….wish they could have many sets of names because you all would be winners.

Thanks for visiting – it’s a rainy/stormy morning here so doing my blog was a bright spot.

Blessings,
Karen